Arizona's top Republicans are snubbing Donald Trump as he prepares to bring his surging GOP presidential campaign and brash talk on immigration to Phoenix.

U.S. Sens. John McCain and Jeff Flake and Gov. Doug Ducey will not attend the Saturday event — now set for the Phoenix Convention Center — hosted by the Republican Party of Maricopa County and featuring Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio.

Flake on Thursday blasted Trump, the celebrity real-estate mogul who has drawn fire for saying Mexican immigrants bring crime and drugs to the United States, and contacted the Maricopa County GOP to register his disapproval.

"Donald Trump's views are coarse, ill-informed and inaccurate, and they are not representative of the Republican Party," said Flake, who with McCain was one of the authors of a bipartisan comprehensive immigration reform that passed the U.S. Senate in 2013. "As an elected Republican official, I'm disappointed the county party would host a speaker that so damages the party's image."

McCain already had distanced himself from Trump's comments about Mexican immigrants, but elaborated Thursday when he was asked during an MSNBC interview about Trump's "rhetoric" and upcoming Arizona visit.

McCain praised the Hispanic influence on Arizona's culture and economy.

"I just think that it is offensive to not only Hispanic citizenry, but other citizenry, but he's entitled to say what he wants to say," McCain said. "But I guarantee you the overwhelming majority (in Arizona) ... do not agree with his attitude, that he has displayed, toward our Hispanic citizens. We love them."

Nationally, there also are signs Trump's constant fire-breathing on immigration is making GOP leaders uncomfortable. The Washington Post reported Reince Priebus, the Republican National Committee chairman, on Wednesday had a private, 45-minute telephone call with Trump in which he reportedly urged the candidate to "tone it down." Trump described the conversation to CNN as "congratulatory," although he was told to "tone it down a little bit."

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Poltiical Insider: Arizona's GOP and the Donald

Trump's visit comes as some Arizona leaders are attempting to reset the state's harsh reputation on immigrants and illegal immigration stemming from the 2010 passage of Senate Bill 1070, the tough immigration-enforcement law. The state has opposed Obama administration policies to shield certain immigrants from deportation. And Arpaio was found by a federal judge to have racially profiled Latinos during enforcement activities.

Ducey, for example, is fresh off a trip to Mexico City to meet with CEOs and government officials who are still smarting from Arizona's policies aimed at undocumented immigrants.

But Trump is not getting the cold shoulder from all Arizona Republicans.

Late Thursday, the Trump campaign announced the Phoenix event was being moved from the Arizona Biltmore resort to the downtown convention center "to accommodate the thousands of people expected to attend."

Responding to Flake's criticism, the Maricopa County GOP said in a written statement that it "is thrilled to have the opportunity to bring many Republican presidential candidates to meet with the voters of Arizona and discuss issues important to the security and prosperity of our country."

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Reactions have spanned the spectrum on Donald Trump’s planned stop in Phoenix Saturday, where he’ll speak about illegal immigration to more than 5,000 people who have RSVP’ed for the event. Some of the state’s top GOP leaders are not attending the event — and some have panned Trump and the county Republican Party for hosting it. Here is a sampling of comments about the celebrity real-estate mogul’s visit to the Phoenix Convention Center. -- Yvonne Wingett Sanchez AFP/Getty Images

“I’ve had everybody running for president since 2012 come and visit me in my office, or me with (them). This is an opportunity," Sheriff Joe Arpaio said. He would not offer a preview to The Republic of his remarks, saying, “You know me, I’m very careful. I don’t try to steal the show from other public officials." Stacie Scott/The Republic

"The Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry is proud to have played host earlier this year to events featuring three of the leading Republican presidential contenders: Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush," said Glen Hamer, president and CEO of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry. "I expect we will welcome additional candidates from both parties in the fall. Donald Trump will never make the cut. His recent comments on Mexico are not only despicable, but they reflect an individual who, despite his billions, is astonishingly ignorant about Mexico, trade and immigration.” Cheryl Evans/The Republic

"I believe that Mr. Trump is kind of telling it like it really, truly is," Republican Jan Brewer told CNN's Don Lemon Wednesday night. "You know, being the governor of (Arizona), the gateway of illegal immigration for six years, we had to deal with a lot of things.” David Wallace/The Republic

A business or political executive, such as Gov. Doug Ducey, should be able to select the team that complements and makes possible the achievement of his or her goals, according to Lee Hunt of Phoenix. Emmanuel Lozano/The Republic

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"In Maricopa County, we believe deeply in (former President Ronald) Reagan's 11th commandment that 'thou shall not speak ill of any other Republican,' and it is disappointing when our Republican leaders do not share that same commitment to Party unity and teamwork," the statement said.

Arpaio, who like Trump is an immigration hardliner, confirmed to The Arizona Republic that he will participate in the Trump event. However, he said it's too early to consider endorsing Trump or any other GOP presidential contenders. In the 2012 presidential race, Arpaio backed former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who again is seeking the Republican nomination. And he declined to specifically weigh in on Trump before Saturday.

"I don't think it's appropriate right now, prior to that, to talk about it," Arpaio said. "This is his rally. I'll make some comments Saturday around 2 o'clock, I guess."

Former Gov. Jan Brewer, who signed SB 1070 into law, told CNN this week that "Trump is kind of telling it like it really, truly is."

"Being the governor of the gateway of illegal immigration for six years, we had to deal with a lot of things," Brewer said. "I think that the people of Arizona realize that we pick up the tab of the majority of the violence that comes across our border with regards to the drug cartels, the smugglers, the drop houses. It has been horrendous."

Ducey made illegal immigration a key talking point as he ran in the crowded 2014 GOP primary and promised to close the Arizona-Mexico border. Since taking office in January, though, he has avoided saying much about illegal immigration, instead focusing on efforts to strengthen trade and economic ties with Mexico.

Ducey has met several potential presidential candidates during their trips to Phoenix.

In March, he met with Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, who headlined a Leadership Series event for the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Ducey also spent a day with New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie in October, when he traveled here to stump for Ducey during the general election. And in May, Ducey spent time with U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida. He also has met with former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush.

"We've had a lot of candidates in town and I've enjoyed meeting with them," Ducey said in May.

David Berman, a senior research fellow at Arizona State University's Morrison Institute for Public Policy, said Arizona's top GOP officials might be avoiding Trump because they hope to discourage his hardline tactics, which put Arizona in a bad light, rile the Republican Party and turn off Latino voters.

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President-elect Donald Trump and his wife, Melania, step off a plane upon arrival at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland on Jan. 19, 2017, ahead of the inauguration. Here's a look back at his career and presidential campaign. Mandel Ngan, AFP/Getty Images

Donald Trump, right, waits with his brother Robert for the start of a Casino Control Commission meeting in Atlantic City on March 29, 1990. Trump was seeking final approval for the Taj Mahal Casino Resort, one of the world's largest casino complexes. AP

Donald Trump stands next to a genie lamp as the lights of his Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort light up the evening sky marking the grand opening of the venture in Atlantic City on April 5, 1990. Mike Derer, AP

Donald Trump and Ivanka Trump watch as the ceremonial starter hits to start the first round of the WGC-Cadillac Championship golf tournament at TPC Blue Monster at Trump National Doral on March 5, 2015, in Miami. Jason Getz, USA TODAY Sports

Trump holds up documents from a poll that shows him running in second place among Republican candidates as he speaks at a meeting of the City Club of Chicago on June 29, 2015. Tannen Maury, European Pressphoto Agency

Trump delivers the keynote address at the Genesee and Saginaw Republican Party Lincoln Day Event on Aug. 11, 2015, in Birch Run, Mich., his first campaign event since his Republican debate debut. Bill Pugliano, Getty Images

Trump fields a question from Univision and Fusion anchor Jorge Ramos during a press conference held before his campaign event at the Grand River Center on Aug. 25, 2015, in Dubuque, Iowa. Earlier in the press conference Trump had Ramos removed from the room. Scott Olson

Trump asks a supporter, Mary Margaret Bannister, check to see whether his hair is real during his speech to supporters at a rally at the TD Convention Center on Aug. 27, 2015, in Greenville, S.C RICHARD SHIRO, AP

Trump and his family attend an arrival event with Gov. Mike Pence and his family at the Great Lakes Science Center on July 20, 2016, in Cleveland during the GOP convention. Jeff J Mitchell, Getty Images

"There's a feeling among establishment Republicans like them that he's just such a loose cannon, just an extremist and he would be a disaster on the national ticket," Berman said.

But, he said, the high number of RSVPs to the event highlight Trump's popularity among the right wing of the party: "The Republicans and the conservatives have really had a rough few weeks with the Supreme Court's decisions, the (Confederate) flags coming down. They like someone who's standing up and fighting and not giving in and not being milquetoast on everything, and someone who is telling it like they see it. They like to have someone up there speaking their language."

In addition to Trump supporters and curious onlookers, the rally is expected to attract demonstrators from the immigrant-rights community. Groups such as Puente Human Rights, LUCHA, the Arizona Dream Act Coalition and Mi Famila Vota have signaled that their members intend to protest.

However, Petra Falcon, director of Promise Arizona, an organization that works to pass immigration reform to legalize undocumented people, doesn't plan to go to Trump's talk.

"Quite frankly, it's not worth our time," she said. "He is speaking in very divisive and hateful language. He really doesn't understand how the economy operates when he is talking about about removing immigrants from the economy."